Wednesday, September 30, 2009

My short story, "Vancouver Dreams," will appear in the Winter edition of SpokeWrite.

SpokeWrite is a quarterly literary journal that features fiction, essays, articles, poetry and photographs from Spokane area artists with a local emphasis.

My story fits the bill because:

a) it is written by me, a local author

b) the main character (fictional) is a former EWU goaltender whose hometown is Vancouver, WAc) the story takes place in Vancouver, BC (now we're getting a little further afield)

d) my hockey novel, All That Counts, is set in Spokane...and will be published by Gray Dog Press, who also publishes out SpokeWrite.

"Vancouver Dreams" is the story of an ex-college goaltender who gets the opportunity to try out for the pros when the NHL goes on strike. Look for "Vancouver Dreams" in January, but in the meantime pick up the Fall issue, which will be out October 1st! You should be able to find them at local bookstores -- Auntie's, Hastings, etc. -- or directly from the publisher at http://graydogpress.com/ .

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Last night, I wrote the Acknowledgments for All That Counts. (I also wrote the one of Heroes Often Fail, a Frank Zafiro novel, as well as brushing up the ones for Under a Raging Moon and Beneath a Weeping Sky, but that story belongs on a different blog...).

It felt good to be writing briefly about why and how this book came to be. I realized there were a lot of people to thank. It was nice to put that gratitude down in black and white.

It also felt good because of the finality of the whole thing. I mean, you don't write an acknowledgments page until the book is getting published. The realization that this book is going to see print in just about six months was pretty satisfying.

Damn satisfying, actually.

So when you pick up the book, please take the time to see who else helped make it happen. And if you're on that list, thanks again.

Monday, September 21, 2009

For my first post, let me announce that Gray Dog Press has accepted my novel, All That Counts. All That Counts is a novel about life and a man's discovery about what is truly important in it.

Graham Wilson is a thirty-something recreational hockey player who decides to follow a long-held desire to become a goaltender. His transition is both comedic and inspiring as he seeks to challenge himself in the midst of a mundane life. Also on display is the curious paradox of the recreational game in American culture (i.e., it means everything, but it is only a game, but it is more than a game, but...). When his team's regular goalie leaves, Graham steps unsteadily into the crease, causing conflict on a team that is used to winning.

Graham's journey is a microcosm of life. Humor, inspiration, camaraderie, love and spite all make their appearances both on and off the ice as Graham struggles to learn what truly is "all that counts."